Rainforest Paradise Costa Rica

An all inclusive amazing tropical rainforest highlights tour with big game fishing at our 5 star resorts Crocodile Bay, making this an absolute ideal couple’s getaway.

Costa Rica’s newest and finest Sport Fishing and Eco-Tour Resort is set in 44 acres of lush tropical gardens with 34 air-conditioned rooms and located in Puerto Jimenez on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. This little gem of a getaway sits right on the edge of tropical rainforest, but still manages to provide top quality accommodation and service our customers have come to expect. Our itinerary is only a small example of some of the activities that you can participate in. For apart from the fantastic inshore and offshore fishing for Roosterfish, Sailfish and of coarse the abundant Marlin you can choose from 26 fantastic ecotours. Why not try a sunset ocean kayak trip, waterfall climbing/rappelling or explore the 17 Guaymi Indigenous reservations. If that was not enough the resort has its own fully equipped spa where you can choose from over 40 different treatments ranging from facial treatments to whole body experiences that will leave you feeling like a fully revitalised new person.

While staying at the resort, wake up each day and fall asleep each night to the different tropical garden aromas, accompanied by a virtual orchestra of Costa Rica's jungle-life sounds from any of a number of exotic birds, or perhaps from a howler monkey, as it makes its way through the nearby jungle! The air-conditioned rooms are spacious, each having two queen-sized beds and a private deck. Every room is uniquely decorated with the local “Tico” flavour, including hand carved wood-work and many have private Jacuzzi baths. All rooms have hot water with full shower/bath and are a two minute walk from our 850 ft private pier.

What our customers have to say: "We are home from Costa Rica & what a wonderful trip - we hope we'll be returning next year (after all, I never made it out to the chocolate plantation!)." Kenley Hetzel "I have traveled the world for the past 20 years as the wife of a Major League Baseball player. During that time I have visited spas throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. I have found the Spa at Crocodile Bay Resort to be right up there with the best. " Debbie Boggs. "We recently had the great fortune to go to your resort in Costa Rica. I am writing to let you know that our experience, from start to finish was FANTASTIC!!!" Andy Fanter

For both your first and last night you will be staying in the lively capital of Costa Rica San Jose

Meliá Cariari . San Jose

B/B

Meliá Cariari has 222 guestrooms and suites conditioned to offer its guests a charming and comfortable stay in San Jose. Its facilities and services such as its two swimming pools, casino and transportation to the Valle de Golf are ideal for travelers wanting to relax and enjoy this city. The Meliá Cariari hotel is located close to the Free Trade Zones, just 5 minutes distance from the Juan Santamaría International Airport and 10 minutes from the city centre of San José. 5 minutes away from the Plaza Real Cariari Shopping Centre, 30 minutes from the Coffee Tour and from Finca de Mariposas, 1 hour from the Irazu Volcano national park and 2 hours from the Carara biological reserve.

Rooms 222 Rooms & Suites with mountain views or views of the pool area: 174 double deluxe rooms, 18 Junior Suites (with one King bed), 2 Wedding Suites, 3 Master Suites, 1 Presidential Suite 24 Royal Service Suites: Butler services, private check-in/out, exclusive lounge Non smoking rooms Connecting rooms Bathroom with hair-dryer Air conditioning Cable TV Direct dial telephone Internet access Trouser press Mini-bar Safe 2 4-hours room service.

Restaurants and Bars Restaurant Curime specialized in steaks Bar/Restaurant Chiriqui, in the pool area Cafeteria Las Tejas serving local and international cuisine Leisure 2 Swimming pools Children's pool Gym Shuttle service to the Spa Centre at the Tryp Corobici hotel Bookings and shuttle service to the Valle de Golf 18-hole golf course, par 71, designed by Tracy May Casino. Services and Facilities Souvenir Shop Beauty parlor Fax and Photocopy services Secretarial service Shoe cleaning Laundry service Rent a car Currency exchange Travel agency Tour desk Doctor on call 24 hours Baby-sitter service.

Bay Lodge. Osa Peninsula

All Inclusive

Our Bay Lodge is Costa Rica’s newest and finest Sport Fishing and Eco-Tour Resort. The sport fishing resort is located on 44 acres of lush tropical gardens with 34 air-conditioned rooms in Puerto Jimenez on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Our exquisite lodge features a top of the line daily menu, swimming pool, hot tub, massage room and a conference center that accommodates up to 80 people. Rooms include hand carved furniture and many have private jacuzzi baths.

Standard and Deluxe Rooms The air-conditioned rooms are spacious, each having two queen-sized beds and a private deck. Every room is uniquely decorated with the local “Tico” flavor, including hand carved furniture and many have private jacuzzi baths. All rooms have hot water with full shower/bath and are a two minute walk from our 750ft private pier which houses our own fleet of 31 boats. Our exquisite lodge features a top of the line daily menu. Chef Pablo Montano provides our guests with the finest blend of local and American cuisine. Each day Pablo will prepare a variety of dishes including fresh fish, chicken, or beef, with the guests’ only dilemma being which to decide on. Our well-stocked bar will provide you with local beers and national drinks as part of your package price, with imported liquors and cigars available at a nominal price. If you wish, these additional purchases can be charged to your room with payment at departure. Both the restaurant and bar have been beautifully constructed utilizing the very popular local wood types “Cristobal” and “Cara de Tigre.”

Rest, Relax and Rejuvenate!

Prepare yourself for the ultimate experience in Costa Rica's most biologically diverse region. The Spa at our bay lodge lies on 44 acres between the largest coastal rainforest of the Americas and the picturesque Golfo Dulce, a true paradise on Earth. At 5,000 square feet we are Costa Rica's newest and largest luxury Spa. Wake up each morning to the sounds of more than 700 exotic bird species including the largest Scarlet Macaw population north of the Amazon. Indulge yourself in a few of our signature treatments and enjoy diversions such as sunset kayaking, a trip across the gulf to a 10 acre orchid farm, horseback riding along secluded beaches or a walk through a wild rainforest.

Spa Amenities Reiki, Thai, and Shiatsu Massage Rooms Traditional Massage Rooms Tandem Massage Rooms Wet Rooms Facial Rooms Private Locker Rooms Spacious Relaxation Vestibule Open Air Seating/Dining Area Kitchen with Spa Cuisine Menu Raw Juice and Herbal Tea Bars

 

Suggested Itinerary

This is a suggest itinerary which can be changed if you so wished to suit your requirements personally, you can extend your stay to include either mores days for fishing, spend more time doing over 26 eco tours or just more time to relax and pamper yourself with over 40 spa treatments. The choice is yours.

10 - Days / 5 - Days fishing / Activities

Day 1	Depart HEATHROW AIRPORT (LHR) with BRITISH AIRWAYS AM Arrive MIAMI (MIA) PM Depart MIAMI (MIA) with AMERICAIN AIRLINES PM Arrive SAN JOSE (SJO) PM On Arrival you will walk through the terminal building where outside our representative's will be waiting, holding up your name. They will then transfer you to the Meliá Cariari Hotel. Assist with check-in and inform you at what time they will pick you up in the morning for your connecting flight. Rest of the evening is yours to either relax or party in San Jose many clubs and bars. Overnight: Accommodation Meliá Cariari Hotel B/B
Day 2	Early in the morning our representative's will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the internal airport, where you will embark on a 45 minute flight across Costa Rica to our lodge. On arrival you will be picked up by our lodge staff and transported to our main welcome area.(Approx 5 Min's). After check in your luggage will be taken to your rooms and you will be able to have a healthy breakfast. During Breakfast our fishing director will introduce himself and inform you what boat you are fishing on. The rest of the day is free to relax to use the hotel facilities or take additional eco tours and spa treatments. Overnight: Accommodation Bay Lodge All Inclusive.
Day 3	Morning A boat ride takes you across the astonishingly beautiful Golfo Dulce to the largest and most elegantly manicured botanical gardens in the region. This huge family-owned garden not only contains the largest collection of orchids in the area, but also gives you an all-senses experience of chocolate, cashew, and mango and other tropical fruit trees; many spices like black pepper, vanilla, ginger; and more. The gardens are centered in a road less track of national park providing a sideshow of the birds, insects, butterflies and other wildlife that visit the gardens. Sandals or water-socks recommended for entering and exiting the boat, and shoes for walking once on land. Afternoon Osa Wildlife Sanctuary Bordering a national park along the same wild stretch of coastline as the botanical gardens tour, is the Osa wildlife Sanctuary. Partake of this rare opportunity to see and even interact with some of the local rainforest creatures; like two and three-toed sloths, spider and howler monkeys, macaws, parakeets and toucans. The sanctuary rehabilitates injured or illegally captured animals, while providing a permanent home for those too debilitated for the wild. You will enjoy your private trip across the gulf on board our new Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless. You will have a good chance to see pods of dolphins and up to three species of whales on the 1 hour round trip across the bay. Overnight: Accommodation Bay Lodge All Inclusive.
Day 4	Morning Miramar Canopy Zip-line. Once a realm limited to scientific investigations, canopy exploration has quickly become on of the fastest growing and most sought after tour frontiers of the rainforest. We are now proud to offer one of Costa Rica’s finest and safest canopy tours. The ideal site area, a 17-acre tract of virgin forest, is called Miramar or “ocean view” referring to its commanding view of the Golfo Dulce and the surrounding rainforest. The platforms are strung-along nearly a mile of rainforest canopy reaching heights of 138ft. While truly adventurous, state-of-the-art equipment is provided for utmost safety. Further, the guides are highly trained and knowledgeable, of not only the techniques and safety issues, but also on the natural wonders encountered on this ride through this ceiling of the natural world. As apposed to waterfall climbing and other types of high ropes activities, the zip-line is relatively effortless, and therefore appropriate for adolescents and mature travelers. Or Waterfall Climbing & Rappelling Your guide will lead you up a densely forested and seldom traveled streambed, arriving at the Rio Clarito Waterfall. Utilizing state of the art climbing equipment, you will first ascend the vertical 40-foot waterfall. After a rest and chance to view the scenery from above, your expert guide will prepare you for your rappel against a torrent of raging waters and the thrill of a lifetime. Many guests want to do it again immediately, and that’s O.K. with us. Afternoon Full Swedish Massage at our own health Spa Overnight: Accommodation Bay Lodge All Inclusive.
Day 5	With the Standard Boat package you decide each day if you wish to fish inshore for Rooster fish etc or venture offshore in search of the Sailfish, Marlin and Tuna. Our captains and crew will be happy for you to do as much or as little of the rigging, running lines and hooking of fish as you require. Just make it clear at the beginning of each day what you want to do and fish for. Overnight: Accommodation Bay Lodge All Inclusive.
Day 6	Your Choice of 26 Fantastic Ecotours or a Secrets of the Osa Two Hour Spa Package Overnight: Accommodation Bay Lodge All Inclusive.
Day 7	Morning Osa Rainforest and Farm Tour Afternoon Mangrove Kayak Tour Overnight: Accommodation Bay Lodge All Inclusive.
Day 8	In the morning you will be returned to the small local airstrip for your return journey to San Jose. On arrival at San Jose our representative's will again be waiting to escort you back to Meliá Cariari Hotel. Assist with check-in and inform you at what time they will pick you up the next day for your return flight home. Rest of the evening is yours to either relax or party in San Jose many clubs and bars. Overnight: Accommodation Meliá Cariari Hotel B/B
Day 9	Depart SAN JOSE (SJO) with AMERICAIN AIRLINES PM Arrive MIAMI (MIA) PM Depart MIAMI (MIA) with BRITISH AIRWAYS PM
Day 10	Arrive HEATHROW AIRPORT (LHR) AM

Departure Dates & Prices

10 - Days / 5 - Days fishing / Activities

10 - Days / 5 - Days fishing / Activities	Rainforest Paradise
All Year	From £2,270 pp Note: included within this price is $610 per person to use on additional resort eco tours and spa treatments

Additional fishing days, eco tours and spa treatments available.

Note: When staying at our lodge the meal plan is all inclusive including local alcoholic drinks, Accommodation on your first and last night in San Jose is on room only basis.

There is a 25 pound baggage limit (including carry-on's) enforced on the "in-country" flight to/from Bay Lodge. Baggage over 25 pounds will incur a $.50 per pound surcharge. Please pack light! Your hotel in San Jose may have a secure storage room to leave heavier, unnecessary items. Please check with the front desk.
At our lodge it is a very relaxed atmosphere therefore you will not require many evening clothes.

What's Included & Excluded

Options Business Class Flight Upgrades Additional Fishing Days Additional Days San Jose Boat Upgrades to 33ft Strikes

What's Included International return flights Internal flights All Airport transfers. Accommodation at our lodge as pr chosen itinerary All Inclusive First and last night in San Jose. B/B Full day/s fishing as indicated on itinerary. Boats, Guides, Tackle (Excluding Fly fishing) and fishing licence's Packed lunch and drinks

What's Excluded Meals when staying in San Jose Holiday insurance Personal items Local Tips

Enquiries & Bookings

Once you have an idea of what destinations and duration of the holiday you would like, contact one of our consultants on 01603 407596 who will be pleased to assist you with any questions and additional literature you may require to help you finalise your holidays itinerary, availability and prices.

When you are ready to book your holiday, our consultants will take down all particulars and take a deposit payment, please make sure that before making any booking that you have read our terms and conditions. At the time of the booking we will ask you to correctly spell the first and last name of each traveling member, as some flights will need to be ticketed at the time of booking and due to airline regulations no name changes can be made, once a ticket has been issued. On receipt of the deposit we will send the lead booker a “Booking Form” and a deposit receipt invoice which becomes the legal contract between Angling Direct Holidays and your party

Tackle Required
Want to talk to our Penn travel consultant

Note: All tackle for offshore trolling inshore spinning or live baiting is provided. If however you wish to try fly fishing we recommend all guests bring their own equipment. Detailed below is a detailed report of what to expect and therefore bring from our experience.

MANGROVE / RIVERS

Equipment and flies: The lodge record black snook is 46 lbs. with many fish over 20 lbs. Many of the river species are smaller, however, and an 8 wt. rod is appropriate. At river mouths go to a 9 wt. and use a 10 wt. for fishing the drop-offs. Use white, light blue popper heads with black tails for surface flies. Also, try a big-eye deceiver in a size 2/0 or 3/0, black, blue, or green on top with a distinctive yellow stripe at the high lateral line and a white or silver underbelly. This pattern imitates a flatiron herring, a primary bait fish. A sink tip or full sink line is the ticket for when fishing drop-offs. Fish the drop-offs parallel to the steep drop. Floaters often work well coming perpendicular to drop-offs from shallow water. Fish big shrimp patterns when the local shrimp boats are in the gulf Shrimpers will often discard waste including heads, which act as a natural chum and attract birds and fish. Fish your shrimp pattern low and slow. Keep in mind that snook will never stray far from fresh water, brackish is OK, but remove the fresh and you remove the snook. Also, snook like the bright lights. A stroll down to the dock at night might prove successful.

INSHORE

Much of the waters of the gulf is fairly deep - up to 700 feet. Often billfish, dolphins and feeding humpback whales are seen in its waters. Most of the opportunity for fly fishing is on the beaches, rocky structures, or shallow reefs. The opportunity to catch a world record size fish is present here every day of the year. The size and diversity of species is astonishing. Recently a 30 lb . bluefin trevally was caught (almost 50% larger than the next biggest IGFA fly rod record) while losing two fly rod-caught roosterfish in the 60 - 70 lb. class to a big white tip shark.

This fishing is not for the unskilled or unprepared. The rewards are greater than anywhere known of on this planet, but the challenge are great. The near shore Pacific fishery can be difficult for virtually its entire length south of the Bering Sea to Tierra del Fuego. Generally the near shore waters become deep very quickly close to shore as is the case here on the Osa Peninsula. There are not a lot of barrier islands and shallow cay's, reefs, and other such structure that blesses much of the Atlantic all the way out to the Continental shelf. Nor is there the minimal tide change from Massachusetts through the Caribbean that often allows flats wading in green water. The near shore Pacific is a wild, beautiful, exotic coast that often has to be accessed by boat and- boat only. The tides are often great and range from 8 - 12 feet, with minimal structure to attract and hold fish. Tide movement becomes more important here. We like to fish where water drains, like drop-offs, lagoon, stream or river mouths, on the out-going tide, rocky areas, structured beaches, peninsulas, coves or points, on the incoming. Always be on-the alert for bait fish: surface activity, birds working, nervous water, slicks etc. Glass the water, move until you find feeding fish. If the fish are moving in a particular pattern intercept then and fish as the approach you.

The beginner can fly fish here, but usually not conforming to IGFA regulations. Beginners can troll flies using a swivel so as not to ruin their fly line or short cast and let the boat's momentum carry their fly a good distance behind the boat before beginning their strip. These methods are forbidden in IGFA regulations, but are extremely productive and fun. For those who wish to fish to IGFA standards, however, the challenge is great. Long casts from a boat to shore are often required. Your fishing boat must stay far enough offshore so as not to make it part of the beach structure by a rogue wave. Your fly should land in the white foam aftermath of a dispelled wave and be stripped up the face of the next incoming wave to be most successful when blind casting. If you can't reach the foam, fish as close to shore as possible while remaining at a safe distance. Choose effective areas when doing this. For example, differences in the shoreline, i.e. draining lagoons or rivers, rocky outcroppings or shallow reefs, peninsulas or cover where bait fish can be trapped, drop-offs, or where outgoing undertows are present, or productive areas your captain knows of Often you can see abrupt color changes in the water indicating changes of depth. Always watch for surface activity, working birds, or oil slicks.

The key near shore target fish is "el gallo" —the roosterfish. Roosters are notorious surface feeders and, in our opinion, catching a large rooster on a fly is the sport's greatest challenge. They are not only the hardest fish to hook on a fly (until recently), they are the most difficult to land once hooked. One nice reward to surface fishing for roosters is that many other species will take your fly. Testing a new Wounded Bait fish Pattern recently, we caught thirteen different species over a two-day period.

Seeing a roosterfish attack a surface fly is one of fly fishing's greatest rewards. They light up like a yellow school bus —chartreuse, purple— their long comb breaking the surface. They have huge bucket-mouths and terrorize bait fish like no other. When the water world erupts with fleeing bait fish the captain and mates invariably yell "Gallo! Gallo!'

Landing a rooster is another matter. They have little or no quit. Roosters will run and run and occasionally jump. If you don't use proper tactics or give them slack you won't land them.

Another beautiful, exotic fish of the area is the bluefin trevally, locally called the blue jack. This exquisite fish is cobalt blue with sky blue markings. It is caught in much the same manner as roosters, although trevally's, jacks and snappers readily take offerings deeper in the water column than roosters. Other inshore species include jack crevelle, and other jacks; many snappers, including giant cubera, Colorado, yellow tail, and rock; many groupers, including tiger, broom tail, and gag, horse eye trevally, hound fish, bonito, several species of mackerel, yellow fin, wahoo, pompano, and so on.

Other interesting fish available near shore, particularly under floating debris like groups of floating coconuts, logs, or tide line debris is the tripletail and mahi mahi as well. Both of these fish are tough customers and are determined fighters and will often jump, particularly the mahi mahi. A sardine colored Closure works well although these species are unsophisticated and will strike almost any offering top or down. Cast into or as close as possible to the debris.

Equipment and flies: Bring the best equipment you can afford. You'll need good gear to successfully challenge this fishery. Be prepared with quality rods and reels and property maintained equipment including: new or cleaned and stretched fly lines; a good selection of leaders and tippets; metal or mono shock tippets in 40#, and 80 to 100# fluorocarbon. It's important in being as prepared with as many different rods and lines as possible to cover different situations.

We prefer an 11 wt. with a floating line and big wounded bait fish, chuggar or tube style fly (blue over white with yellow stripe), or match the hatch, to be used around large schools of agitated bait fish. When fishing in pairs, one fisherman can use a chuggar/tube setup while the other the wounded bait fish fly.

Lastly, if possible use a 12 weight with a heavy full sink line of 600 to 1,000 grain in conjunction with a big squid pattern like Popovics's Shady Lady Squid, Cotton Candy or a huge 10 - 12 inch big eyed deceiver with bright yellow feathers. Fish the 12 weight over shallow reefs up to 70 or 80 feet. Fish the squid by casting out as far as possible, wait a for your line to sink near or on the bottom, then make two or three yard-long strips with a pause, then let the fly drop and repeat the action. Fish the big deceiver low and slow with occasional quick strips and then let it sink and repeat. Often you'll get strikes on the drop so keep your rod down, pointed directly at your fly for a good hook setting position. You can fish deeper than this if your fish finder shows a good population of fish. Your boat must be fairly stationary, either dead drifting or with a sea anchor. Use large circle hooks 4/0 to 6/0 at depths below 70 feet in conjunction with Rio's "Tungsten Dreager" fly lines or use no stretch, gel spun backing with Courtland's Lead Core line in 15 to 25 foot lengths to get down.

Equipment: strongly recommend quality rods like a Scot STS, Sage RPLxi, T & T Vector or Loomis. Also, you need strong but light reels with an outstanding drag, like the Islander, Tibor, or Pate. Large arbor models that aid in quicker landings and make it easier for the angler and fish alike. Dual mode (Seamaster) or anti reverse (Islander) reels are also well adapted for these conditions. Make sure your reels are clean and oiled. For bargain priced but good performance try a TFO rod from Springbrook and Teton Tioga reels. Having equipment failure when you have a once in a lifetime fish on is not a fun thing.

Fly line extensions and leaders and tippets: use a 40 lb. fluorocarbon shock tippet, even for the toothless rooster whose sandpaper like mouth will easily wear through even quality 20 lb. mono during a hard fight. Use 80 lb. mono, fluorocarbon or wire when targeting snappers or jacks. You'll break some fish off with mono or fluoro, but usually land more. If you're targeting cuberas, however, you must use wire as they'll break you off in the rocks or coral. For floating lines, add AirFlo's clear poly extension (10'). Often just use a loop to loop with a 5 foot section of 50# mono with a 3 foot section of 30# and a 15 inch section of line class tippet and a 12 inch tippet of 40# fluoro. Tie the 40# fluoro to the line class with a blood or improved blood knot.

Hook set: Try to set the hook immediately, or as an alternative, use a circle hook. Make sure you have a quality hook or be prepared to have it straightened out for you. It is extremely important to have a razor sharp point. When you set the hook, try to do it at as close to a 90 degree angle on the fish as possible. This gives you the power of utilizing the strength of the rod butt.

Fighting Fish: It is imperative to fight roosters with a low rod. A high rod lacks the power required to pressure these incredibly strong warriors. I use low rod tactics almost exclusively in the Pacific. Stand at a 90 degree angle to the fish you're fighting, keep the rod down near the water and point the last six feet of the rod directly at the fish, This allows you to battle the fish with the power of the rod butt. Roosters have no quit, neither should you. Change the direction of your angle of pressure by rotating your rod every few minutes - this technique assumes you have some sort of shock tippet. This and other "down and dirty" tactics will help you psychologically defeat the fish, land him more quickly and keep you off the masseuse's table.

OFFSHORE

After all is said and done, the best quality of fly fishing for billfish is in Pacific Costa Rica from Punta Quinones south to the Panama border. Other areas can be more prolific at times, but for smaller fish. At Bay Lodge and for miles north and south of there, the blue water billfish grounds are only a few miles offshore. Offshore is really close to shore. This means several things: a shorter boat ride and, therefore, more fishing time; the ability to split days from offshore to inshore; because of the generally steep shoreline it is a rarity to lose a fishing day to wind, particularly in the most popular dry months; the near shore deep water also makes migrating blue, black, and striped marlin plus sailfish available to augment the billfish endemic to the area.

Costa Rica's sailfish are the largest sails. Sails and marlin are present 12 months of the year and to quote fishing director Todd Staley, "the fishing can vary more day to day than season to season." However, there are times when the chance of catching a marlin improves on average due to migration conditions. For example, blues are more prevalent in March and April, while blacks and striped are more common in July and August.

Sailfish chances are in the 10 to 15 sighted fish on an average day, and twice that or more on a good day. Billfish "ups" are counted if one is seen at one of the teasers. Often multiple fish are sighted. In Costa Rica I've seen pods of as many as 10 sails immediately behind the boat within easy casting range. On another occasion I looked on with awe at a pod of 9 fish, including 2 blue marlin.

Sails are a lot easier to hook than marlin. First they're more plentiful. They are also far more aggressive than any marlin species. Usually you only get one shot at a marlin; if you miss him, he's history. You usually have to be faster with your fly presentation as well. Marlin don't usually hang around, although we've seen a number of exceptions, sails, lit up like a Christmas tree, attack a fly repeatedly. we've seen four sails hooked out of one pod of fish - these fish hung around the drifting boat for many minutes.

Marlin average sizes are 250 - 300 lbs. for blues, 400 for blacks, (grander's - 1,000 lbs. or more are known in these waters), and 150 - 300 lbs. for striped. The average number of sightings for all types of marlin/day is one. The lodge record is four in a half day session. This was on conventional tackle, but where else could such a feat as this be accomplished in a half day.

In addition to billfish, there are opportunities for many other blue water species. The "catch 22" however is that if you only have hookless teasers and feathers out when fly fishing, you're not in a position to catch other non-schooling species such as wahoo. If you have a plan and are ready for schooling species that are visible on the surface from a distance, like yellow fin tuna, you can replace a teaser with a hooked jig and catch some sushi. we've done this many times and on several occasions caught big yellowfin or big eyes on light tackle that was more than we bargained for. we've also caught non-billfish species casting to sailfish including a 61 lb. yellowfin on a 16# tippet and several dorado. The best shot for dorado is to cast for them near floating debris or to troll with conventional light tackle and after catching one, shut down the engine, keep the mahi mahi in the water until others in the same harem are attracted. As long as one fish stays active in the water the others will not leave. A lone bull dolphin, the one with the flat head, travels with his harem of females. The bigger the individual fish, the fewer in number. At Bay Lodge the mahi mahi grow to awesome proportions. While available year round they are particularly abundant December through February. During this time a catch of 20 fish/day averaging 25 lbs. is usual. The first mahi mahi I saw taken here weighed 78 lbs. and they are known to go over 100 lb. Mahi mahi are a cinch to catch once you locate them. They'll attack virtually any bait fish imitation on top or down.

Yellow fin tuna are abundant here in all sizes from football size to over 300 lbs. On occasion big-eye tuna are also taken, also up to 300 lbs. Tuna, along with the mahi mahi are the primary food staple for marlin. Often various bottle-nosed dolphin run with schools of tuna and are a great sign for billfish. A good opportunity arises when yellow fin school to feed on small squid or schools of herring. Birds announce their presence for long distances. When approaching these situations make your decision, fly or conventional tackle! Portuguese Man of War birds (frigate), also often announce the presence of bait fish from afar. They are a good billfish sign.

Our captains and mates are well versed in fly fishing blue water with regard to boat preparation, tactics, the number and type of teasers (up to five), teaser colors to use, and how to position them. The angler must decide what role he wants to play with regard to teasing the fish. He can tease the fish himself or defer to the mate who is an expert. Being able to properly tease a fish to within casting range of the boat is as important as any individual aspect of catching a billfish. Other teaser rods must be handled with coordination and teamwork that is predetermined according to the number, skill, and desires of the angler.

Equipment: As with the inshore equipment, get the best you can afford, Scott, Sage, T & T. When fly fishing offshore I'll prepare six rods if possible. If I only have one it will be for my primary target species.

For mahi mahi: string a 10 wt. rod with a floating line and a small popper, slider, or small wounded bait fish fly on about a 2/0 hook. A clear intermediate line will probably take more fish with a small closure or deceiver but isn't as much fun. For smaller yellow fin an 11 wt. is a good choice. Even small yellow fin are fast, hard fighters. Small bait fish patterns work well on intermediate, sink tip, or 300 to 400 grain lines.

For sailfish: Catching your first sailfish is very easy and very difficult. Easy if you do what you are taught. Difficult, as you are in such a state of excitement with a 10 foot animal trashing your fly with his bill 20 feet from your face, you somehow can't even chew gum right. This is truly a totally electric moment, one to cherish for the rest of your life. A 12 wt. rod is the ticket for the experienced angler. I prefer to have three rods ready, if possible, with different colored flies. Many, including beginners, prefer to use heavier rods to a 14 or 15 wt. for the really big sails here.

For marlin: A 15 wt. is your best choice. All reels must be large arbor with good smooth drags: Islander, Tibor, or Pate. I like to load 35 or 50 lb. gel spun as the base for backing. I loop this (with a bimini twist) to 30 lb. flat Dacron braided backing, and then loop again to about 50 feet of Elite braided running line, and then loop again with a Lefty loop onto a blue water fly line or a length of Courtlands lead core of from 18 to 28 feet depending on how big the fly is you're casting and the size of the rod. Novices can use a straight 30 lb. mono leader with a 24" length of 80 or 100 lb. shock tippet or a prepared IGFA leader. See attached diagram for self-construction of a backing, running line, fly line, leader system.

Billfish flies: There are a number of excellent billfish flies. Cam Sigler Co. (Camsigler@aol.com) has flies with his tube heads that have tandem hooks. Blue Water Flies C.C., chadfly@netactive.co.za also has flies and a line of foam products. Edgewater, at 1-800584-7647 www.fishtheedge.com or JSHIBA2300@aol.com, sells all the materials necessary to tie offshore flies. Boyd's Wounded Bait fish Fly is also available at retailers who handle the Springbrook product line (1 -800-638-9052, www.sbm-mangrove.com.

For sailfish, I have a great deal of confidence in flies that are red over white; blue over white, dark pink over light pink. For marlin or sails I will fish any of the above but also like green and yellow (dorado colors).

It is critical that flies have strong sharp hooks. A hook is sharp when it cannot be firmly dragged across your fingernail without digging in. Owners and Gamakatsu are good choices.

Fighting techniques: The captain or mate at our bay lodge will ask whether you're right or left handed. This will allow proper positioning of a stripping basket and determine which side of the boat for the majority of the teaser placement. Strip out about 40 feet of line and cast it becoming used to the line. You won't need any more line than that, as fish are teased in close by one of your fishing partners or the mate. Strip your line in and, as it comes in, coil it in your stripping basket or bucket with about 6" of water in it. This way, when you cast, the line that will shoot out first will be on the top and the line that shorts out last will be on the bottom, avoiding many unnecessary tangles at the critical time of delivery. Make a plan with your captain and mate as to how you want things done. Who's up first, who's next? Usually what constitutes an up is a legitimate chance to cast to a billfish and he tries to eat your fly. If you miss, you're done - next angler. If the billfish doesn't attack and try to eat the fly, you're still up.

Determine how many and what type of teasers, and assign who's to man each of them. For example, if you're targeting marlin you might want to use a whole rigged black fin tuna or a good-sized mahi mahi belly bait as your primary teaser, whereas a rigged ballyhoo and smaller belly bait, or rigged sardine or mullet with a skirt might do the trick, particularly if color coordinated with your fly. Often we like to colour coordinate teasers and/or skirts, particularly with marlin, so your fly looks somewhat like the teaser when you present it to him. Have several rods rigged, two or three for sailfish, one for marlin - or more if you're targeting marlin with big teasers and belly baits.

Discuss with your captain if you want to fish IGFA regulations or not. There is a better chance of setting a record here on billfish than anywhere else I know of If fishing IGFA regs, the engines must be in neutral before you can cast. Cast slightly behind your billfish but near their head. I always try to cast to the side of the billfish that they're heading and behind. Billfish have peripheral vision and see and hear the fly. By casting in this manner, you can get an angle going away and set the hook in the opposite direction the fish is swimming towards. This improves your chances of getting your hook set in the comer of the mouth. All billfish have mouths like concrete. They have a small soft area in the top front of the mouth and a very narrow band circling the mouth. Except for these tiny areas, and you have almost no chance of gaining a purchase there, you have to set the hook in the corner of the mouth.

Set the hook hard several times until the fish starts to jump or run. If he jumps quickly drop your rod into the water to reduce your chance of breaking your line. If he runs, let him go. Often sails or marlin will jump or greyhound across the surface at over 65 mph. They are the ocean's fastest swimmers. Let them go. Jumping tires them. Always keep your rod low when fighting billfish. Never raise your rod up high as many of us have been taught. When the billfish completes his run, he'll go down. Back down on him - tighten your drag and put the wood to him. Side angle him with a low rod then change directions. Repeat this process. It discourages him and makes him give up earlier. When he runs again, let him and repeat the process. This way, you can drastically cut your fighting time to under 30 minutes, often under 15 minutes if you're good at it.

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